tive Christian since seventeen years of age, through his early
pulpit service, his six years' professorship, and the long pastorate in
Plainfield, N.J., closed by his death, he considered preaching to be his
supreme function as it certainly was his first love. Music was to him "a
side-issue," an "efflorescence," and writing a hymn ranked far below
making and delivering a sermon. "I felt a sort of meanness when I began
to be known as a composer," he said. And yet he was the author of a hymn
and tune which "has done more to bring back wandering boys than any
other" ever written.[45]

[Footnote 45: "Where Is My Boy Tonight" was composed for a book of
temperance hymns, _The Fountain of Song_, 1877.]

"ETERNITY."

This is the title and refrain of both Mrs. Ellen M.H. Gates' impressive
poem and its tune.

O the clanging bells of Time!
Night and day they never cease;
We are weaned with their chime,
For they do not bring us peace.
And we hush our hearts to hear,
And we strain our eyes to see
If thy shores are drawing near
Eternity! Eternity!

Skill was needed to vocalize this great word, but the ear of Mr. Bliss
for musical prosody did not fail to make it effective. After the
beautiful harmony through the seven lines, the choral reverently softens
under the rallentando of the closing bars, and dwelling on the
awe-inspiring syllables, solemnly dies away.

TRIUMPH BY AND BY.

This rally-song of the Christian arena is wonderfully stirring,
especially in great meetings, for it sings best in full choral volume.

The prize is set before us,
To win His words implore us,
The eye of God is o'er us
From on high.
His loving tones are falling
While sin is dark, appalling,
'Tis Jesus gently calling;
He is nigh!

CHORUS.
By and by we shall meet Him,
By and by we shall greet Him,
And with Jesus reign in glory,
By and by!

We'll follow where He leadeth,
We'll pasture where He feedeth,
We'll yield to Him who pleadeth
From on high.
Then nought from Him shall sever,
Our hope shall brighten ever
And faith shall fail us never;
He is nigh.

CHORUS-- By and by, etc.

Dr. Christopher Ruby Blackall, the author of the hymn, was born in
Albany, N.Y., Sept. 18, 1830. He was a surgeon in the Civil War, and in
medical practice fifteen years, but afterwards became connected with the
America